Horn expander for can body making machines



July 2, 1940. w. WEBER HORN EXPANDER FOR CAN BODY MAKING MACHINES 4 Shts-Sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1938 July 2, 1940.

W. WEBER HORN EXPANDER FOR CAN BODY MAKING MACHINES Filed April 2, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I July 2, 1940.

W. WEBER HORN EXPANDER FOR CAN BODY MAKING MACHINES Filed April 2, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 MAL/AM #4519151? July 2, 1940.

w. WEBER 2,206,795 HORN EXPANDER FOR CAN BODY MAKING MACHINES Filed April 2, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2kg 9 J9 JIWMl [OD MAL/8M M45551? UNITED. STATES PATENT, OFFICE 1 P atent'ed July 2, 1940 it it a t, a 2,206,795

, HORN EXPANDEB. FOR CAN BODY MAKING ,MACHINE S William Weber, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 2, 1938, SerialNo. 199,714 18 Claims. (01. 113-12 The invention relates generally to can ,7 body the horn expanding means and including a thrust making machines of the type disclosed in U. S. bar and one to two ratio gearing connections LettersPatents to Troyer #1,543,460, of June 23, with a power shaft of the machine which rotates 1925, and Troyer, et al., #1,750,550 of March 11, oncefor each complete can body forming cycle.

1930, and primarilyseeks to provide a novel and Another object of the invention is to provide efficient double-acting horn. expanding mechamovement transmitting devices of the character nism designed to enable material speeding up of stated including a novel overload release mechthe operation of such machines. 3 an S j In can body machines of the type mentioned, With the above and other objects in view the body blanks are intermittently advanced, by which will more fully appear, the nature of the 10 reciprocating feed bars, along a guideway past invention will -be more clea y understood by certain devices whichoperateto form oppositely following the detailed description, the ppe turned hooks on the ends of the blanks, after claims, and the several views illustrated in the which the blanks are advanced to the hornand p y ng d w ngsare wrapped or formed aboutit by the action of i In e dr w n i a pair oi wing clamps, so that their flanged edges Fig. 1 isa plan View lus at ng e invention; will be brought into overlapped relation. Just 2 iS a r ht Side ev t of e p s before the forming operation the horn is slightly Shown in Fig. 1, the overload release mechanism moved so as to clamp the blank against an abuto e plate being di ment to prevent slipping and then the horn is ex- Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the main 2Q panded diametrically so that the overlappede d body portion of the overload release mechanism of the blank will be hookedtogether, one within h g;

the other, and when in this relation, they are Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section taken on th struckby a bumper so as to clamp them together line, 2; f i in a tighfly dosed seam, Fig. 5 is a left side elevation of the drive 25 Hereto fore, the horn expanding means have e hou ng, portions of the cover plate being 7 been movable with the blank feeding means and broken y; t V

certain limitations of design and relative timing 6 is an enlarged Ce t ud nal secof parts occasioned by this driving relation have t e erm resulted in undesirable and unnecessary, ,over- Fig. 7. is a diagrammat c p a V ew Showing the 30 loading of the feeding means, excessivevelocity eh driving the m e p der rod and of movement of the feeding devices at the time of associatedmachine parts; contact with the blanks, resulting in damage to Bis n enlarged detailed plan view of one i the blank edges, excessive movement and wearing of thedouble-aeting expander ca pO Si of the horn expanding means, jamming of parts Fig.9qis an enlarged detailed verticalcross-sec- 35 due to displacement of elements included in the t taken line on I horn expanding means, and reduction in potenj Fig. 101s an enlarged detailed vertical cross tial speeds of operation obtainable in the machine section taken on the line Ill-10 onFig. 2; as a whole. It has been-found that by providing Fig. 11 is an enlarged detailed vertical cross- 1 the novel horn expanding means herein dissection taken on the line ll--|l on Fig.2. 40

closed, which is operated independently ofthe As has been previously stated, the present inblank feeding means, the difficulties alluded to vention dealswithimprovements in machines of can be eliminated. i i i that general construction shown in United States In its moredetailed, nature, the invention r Patents #1,543,460, issued toNelson Troyer on sides in the provision of a novelhorn expanding June 23,1925, and #1,'750,550, issued to Nelson 15 means operable independently of the blank feed Troyer 'et al., on March 11, 1930, each of which ing devices and including adouble acting recipshows a machine comprising a guideway along rocable expanded rod to which. one complete which can body blanks are advanced by the acreciprocation is imparted for each two can body tion of reciprocating feed bars past} a series of forming operations, and which operatesto exmechanisms which notch the opposite ends of 50 pand and relieve or collapse the horn'once for the blanks'and then flange and bend back the each single direction stroke movement of said ends to form oppositely turned hooked portions rod. i which later are interlocked and seamed together Another object of-the inventionfis to provide to formtheblanks. into cylindrical bodies. novel movement transmitting devices for driving Aitera can body blank has been advancedby 55 clamps and bumper all operate in synchronis'm.-

the feed bars, past the hookforming devices to a position overlying the horn, the opposite end portions of the blank are then bent downwardly about the horn so as to bring their hooked end portions into overlapped relation. This bending of the blank is accomplished by the downward closing movement of a pair of wing clamps adapted to be actuated between open and closed positions by operative connections with rotatably driven shafts mounted along the opposite sides of the machine. I I

.As is shown in Fig. 7, the two shafts 5-,5'are driven by suitable sets 6 of gearing from a cross shaft .1 which, in turn. has geared connection; as

at 8, with a main drive shaft 9extended alongone side of the machine. This drive shaft 9 alsohasa geared connection, as at layvith the cross shaft H providing that the feed bars, horn, wing See also Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of Troyer et al.-Patent The driver gear l2 issecured upon the.crss

, shaft 7 and is housed within an extension l3 of a gear housing l4. See Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 7. -Within the housing 54 is mounted. a'gear l5 to which rotation is imparted bythe driver gear |2.; These gears have a one to two ratio so that rotation is imparted to. the gear l5 at halfthe speed ofrotation of the shaft I and gear I 2. Thegear i5 is secured upon a-stud shaft. l6 having rotatable hearing as at I! inthe housing, the gear .15 being secured to the stud shaft through the 'rnedium of screws l8 and positioning studs 19 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings,

= The housing l4,. I3, is open at one face as shown inFig. 4 of the drawinga'andthis open face is closed by a removable cover plate 20. The stud shaft 16 projects from the housing bearing as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 andcarries a crank disc?! equipped with a headed crank pin 22.. The crank pin is secured in a bushing sleeve 23 screw secured as'at 24, in a receiving aperture-25*formed in the disc, and the disc itself is :equippedwith .securedthereon by a'lock nut 32.

pinch bolt-equipment 26 for adjustably securing "45 it upon the stud shaft l6. See Fig. 2.. Byreleasing the pinch bolt equipment 26 it is possible to adjustthe-position of the crank disc about the aXis of'thestud shaft. The gearv housing I 4,. l3 issuitably anchored as at 27.. w

The expansible and collapsible" horn ,is shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 9 of the drawings. and'in-v .cludes the usual slide block 28. and. tubular. supporting stud 29 thread securedas 'at 30 in "said block; The hornalso includes a central body -3l supported on and surroundingthe stud .29 and A hardened splineor bumping anvil 33 ,is mounted .in the lower portion of the body 3|, and a head piece 34 is secured to .the upper portion of the; central body. A stationary side piece 35 is secured as at 36 to the central body 3!; and a. feed-bar guideway 31 is provided between. the upper portions of the side piece and the headpiece 34,;as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. I i i In this particular disclosure Ihave illustrated a hornhaving one stationary side piece and one movable side piece. It is to beunderstood, howeverthat two movable side pieces may be em? ployed if desired as illustrated in the Troyer, et al. Patent. #1,?50550, hereinbefore referredto.

The singlemovable. side piece disclosed in this particular illustration is indicated at 38 andis. secured tothe central body 3|-byqan outward mpvement'limiting screw 39; as illustratedinFig. 60f the drawings. A leaf spring 40 constantly tends to collapse the horn by moving the movable piece 38 inwardly toward the central body 3!, the ends of the spring being extended into a receiving recess 4| formed in the piece 38 for engagement withoverhanging lugs 42.

Adjustable thrust receiving screws 43 are mounted in the movable piece 38, one thereof being provided at each side of the limiting screw 39, and the thrust receiving ends of these screws pro ject into apertures 44 provided in the side wall The apertures 44 align with 29 and fitted with retainers 45 for the thrust imparting rollers 46. It will be noted that the thrust receiving screws 43 project like distances into the central body apertures 44 so that the rollers 4% which engage these screws are equi-distantly spaced from the axis of the tubular sup porting stud 28.

An expander rod 47 is reciprocably mounted in the tubular supporting stud 29, being slidable in bearing bushings 48 fitted in said stud as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The rod 41 is provided with a longitudinal recess 49 for receiving the inwardly projected portions of the rollers 46 and also thedouble acting cam bar 50 which is mountedin said recess and secured to the rod as illustrated'in Fig. 6. The'cam bar is equipped with two double acting 'cam projections 5i, each including oppositely directed cam surfaces spaced by a longitudinal dwell portion of the central body 3|, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9 H off the drawings. openings formed in the tubular supporting stud 52;. At each side of its straight line or dwell porI-,

tion 52, each cam projection 5! includes a gradual camming surface 53 as best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

V It will be obvious that each time the'rod 41 is moved to the right of the position illustrated in Fig. 6, the rollers. 46 will leave the dwell portions 52 of the cam projections and ride inwardly on the moving cam surfaces 53at the left hand side of the projections, thus permitting the horn, or rather the movable side piece 38 thereof, to collapse; When the rod is again moved to the left,

the rollers 46 will ride up on the moving cam surfaces 53 and ontothe dwell portions 52, forcing a the screws 43 and the horn side piece 38 outwardly to expand the horn.

Upon continued movement of the rod 41 in the direction stated, the rollers will ride down the L cam portions at the opposite sides of the projections 5! and again effect a collapsing of the horn. Thus, the rod and cam equipment disclosed in Fig. 6 of the drawings, is double acting and is capable of efi'ecting an expansion and contraction or collapsing of the horn in each direction of movement or during each stroke of reciprocation.

Also, by providing the gradual camsurfaces 53,

and by moving the rod 4'! relatively slowly, the

expansion and contraction of the horn-is effected without shock and unnecessary wear.

A pitman bar 54 is connected to the crank pin 22 and this bar is slidably received in a housing 55. Under normal operations, the bar 54 and housing 55 move as a unit, but there is included in the housing an overload release mechanism which engages the bar, and whenever an overload is imposed upon the composite pitman equipment, this release mechanism releases the bar-and permits it to slide relative to the housing, thus avoiding breakage of parts.

The housing 55 asat'fi'l to a block 58 adjustably reciprocable horn expander rod 41.

includes an extension or bracket portion 56 which is pivotally connected secured. to the r also includes a vertical guide-way 6?. inwhich.

Within the housing 55 a roller 66 is. secured tothe bar 54 and the housing is provided with an elongated recess 6| for accommodating and permitting movement. of the roller 60 whenever the overload release mechanism releases the bar I to slide relatively in the housing. The housing a latch plate 63 is slidably mounted. The latch plate is equipped at its upper end with a V-notch Blior receiving the bar roller. This plate also carries aroller 65 and the plate is normally, and yieldablyheldup against the bar roller, asshown j in Figs. 2 and 11 of the drawings, by one faceof aV-nose E6 of ;a latch member 51 slidable in a horizontalguidaway 68 formed in the housing. The latch member is constantly urged by a spring 69 into roller engaging and, retaining conj tact and the degreegoi compression of this spring can be adjusted by an adjustable screwplunger equipment "Ill mountedon thehousing 555. l If, for any reason, an over-load is imposed upon the reciprocable rod tl, the latch plate t3 will yield downwardly to free the roller lill from the notch a l. When the latch plate isthus V displaced, the roller (i5 will displaceythe latch member El and afterit passes the nose 66 the latch member will again be projected by its spring andthe noseportion 6% thereof will retain the {roller 65 in thelowered, latch plate re-- leased fposition. With .theparts in this condi tion, the bar 54 is free to'slide back and forth in thehousingfiii without imparting reciproca tion to the rod 41'. l l

i In order to provide fo r the resetting of the partsto the normal movement impartingcondition,provide a reset lever H which is pivoted at 12 in the housing] and has a hubportion extended. through a .'wall of the housing and equipped with. a non circular head ll-l to which a wrench may be applied for manipulating the lever. The lever extends under the latch plate roller 65 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings,

so that by proper manipulation of this lever, the

latch plate can befforcedupwardly; displacing the latch member 65, 61 and restoring the parts i to the normal'position illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. ]The housing is casting provided with an open face asshown in in the nature of askeleton Figs/Zand 3 of the drawings. The open face of the housing is closed by afremovable cover plate I4 including a filler block portion '55 projecting into the guide-way 52 to aid in confining the latch plate 63.

QAfterthe overload release devices have; funce "tioned as above stated, to freethe bar 54 for rela in'theTroyer, et alvPatent #1350550, the thrust receiving tive movement in the housing 55, and thema- "chine condition causing the over-load has been remedied, the parts are reset to their normal condition. as above,stated. Inbrder to facilitate this re-setting of parts, the bar fill is pro vided with an indicator notch ll which may be lined up with thehousingflend wall! as shown in f .Fig. 2 of the drawingsjso astowleterminethe position of the bar, roller (ill within the housing atthe time the resetting of the latchis being effected. Notches or indicating marks l8 may also be provided on the gear housing 13, M, for facilitating the proper positioning of the pitman bar 5 4and crank disc 2|.

' Indprior equlpments, such as the horn disclosed screws were of different lengths and the carnming equipments, effectivein one direction of movement only, had to he stepped at different distances with respect to the axis of the horn. In such equipments; whenattempts were made to operate; the machines rapidly, so

asjto produce more than three hundred andfifty (350) cans per minute, problems were presented by displacement of the rollers engaging the shorter of the screws, causing a'jamrning of parts. These difficulties have been avoided by the symmetrical double acting equipments herein described. a l Again, inrthe operation of previously known body forming equipmentsthe expansion of the horn has begun when can feeder or finger bars had about %;of travel left before completing their retracting stroke. Full expansion of the horn required about 1% of travel .andjthe remaining T95" of travel took place along fiat or dwell portions of the control devices within the horn. On the forward or can feeding stroke,

/8, of travel would berequired before the horn would be completely collapsed and the finger bars might start pushing the newly; formed can oi? the horn. .Through this 7 of travel, the velocity: of the fingersincreased materially and the fingers struck the tinplatea very sharp blow; resulting in a battering and marking of the edges of the can bodies and frequently causing trouble during subsequent operations on the cans.

.Byproviding the hereindescribedhorn expand ing andcollapsing mechanisms which are entirely independent of the body blankfeedingdea vices, all of these difiiculties have been avoided,

The independent horn expanding mechanism. is designed to make the design of the horn, expandmg and'collapsingand the period through which the horn i held expanded, independent of the feed finger assembly timing. It is thus possible to time the collapsing of the horn so that the feeding fingers have traveled only on their forward stroke before engaging thetin plates.

Thus the velocity attained by the fingers at the time of contact withithe tin plate is negligible and finger marks are not discernible on can bodies formed on this improved equipment at a speedof. four hundred (400) per minute.

Inaddition to the elimination of finger marks on the formed can bodies, my improved mechanism decreases the" stroke of the expander rod by'half. The number of strokes of the expander rod is reduced to half the number of body shaping part operations and all'difiiculties resulting from horn roller displacements are eliminated.

' 1; In a can body; forming machine, an expansible and collapsible horn, andmeans including an overload release connection and movable in a singledirection for effecting an expansion and alcollapsing of said horn. l

2. Ina canbody forming machine, an expansiblc and collapsible hornpa reciprocable cam, andmeans movable under control of said cam and 1 effective during each stroke of movement of said reciprocable cam for expanding and collapsing said horn, and means for reciprocating said cam including an overload release connection effective to render the cam ineffective upon imposition of anoverload during any stroke of movement 3; In a can body forming machine, apower shaft rotated once during each can body forming cycle, an expansible and collapsible horn a double acting reciprocahle element effective in i each direction of reciprocation toexpand and collapse the horn, and means for imparting to r the element one complete reciprocation for each two-rotations of said shaft.

4; In a can body forming machine, a power shaft rotated once during each can body forming cycle, an expansible and collapsible horn, a double acting reciprocable element effective in each direction of reciprocation to expand and collapse the horn, and means for imparting to the element one complete reciprocation for each two rotations of said shaft, said means including a one to two ratio gearing connection and a crank and pitman interposed between said gearing and said element.

5. In a can body forming machine, a power shaft rotatedlonce' during each can body forming cycle, an expansible and collapsible horn, a double acting reciprocable element effective in each direction of reciprocationto expand and collapse the hornfmeans for imparting to the element one complete reciprocation for each two' rotations ofsaid shaft, said means including a one to two ratio gearing connection and a crank and pitman interposed between said gearing and said element, and an overload release means in said crank and pitman connection.

6.. In a can body forming machine, a power shaft rotated once during each can body forming cycle, an expansible and collapsible horn, a

double actingreciprocable element effective in each direction of-Jreciprocation to expand and collapse the horn, meansfor imparting toth e element one complete reciprocation for-each two rotations of said'shaft, said-means including a one to tworati o gearing connection and acrank and pitman interposed between said gearing and said element, and means for longitudinally adjusting the position of said element with respect to said pitman.

7. In a can body forming machine, a power shaft rotated once during each can body forming cycle, 'an expansible and collapsible horn, a 'double acting reciprocable element efiectiv'e in each direction of reciprocation to expand and collapse the horn, means for imparting to the element one complete reciprocation for each two rotations of said shaft, said means including a one to two ratio gearing connection and a crank and apitman interposed between said gearing and said element, .means for longitudinally adjusting the position of said element with respect to said pitman, and means for adjusting the position of said crank with respect to said gearing. t I

8. In a can body forming machine wherein is provided an expansible horn, and means for forming about the horn can bodies each includ ing a side seam disposed longitudinally of the t horn, said means including a seam bumper movable for seam bumping purposes each time the horn is expanded; means for effecting and relieving expanded conditions of the horn includ-, ing a reciprocable element effective in eachdirection of its reciprocation to once effect and once relieve an expanded condition of the horn, and

means for moving the element and the seam bumper in. timed relation so that the seam bumper operates once duringeach expansion of the horn.

9. In a can body forming machine wherein is provided an expansible horn, and means for forming about the horn can bodies each including a side seam disposed longitudinally of the horn,

said means including a seam bumper movable for seambumping purposes each time the horn is expanded; means for effecting and relieving expanded conditions of the horn including a reciprocable actuator member effective in each direction of its reciprocation to expand said horn,

and means for moving said member, and the seam bumper in timed relation so that the seam bumper operates once during each expansion of the horn.

10. In a ean body forming machine wherein l is provided an expansible horn, and means for forming about the horn can bodies each including aside seam disposed longitudinally of the horn, said means including a seam bumper movable for seam bumping purposes each time the horn is expanded; means for effecting and relieving ex-- panded conditions of the horn including an actuator member eilective in a single direction of movement for expanding and collapsing said horn, and means for moving said member and the seam bumper in timed relation so that the seam bumper operates once during each expansion of the horn.

11. In a can bodyformingmachine wherein is provided an expansible horn, and means for forming about the horn canbodies each including a side seam disposed longitudinally of the horn, said means including a seam bumper movable for seam bumping purposes eachltime the horn is expanded; means for effecting and relieving 'ex-' panded conditions of the horn including a recip- I rocable cam; means movable' undencontrol of said cam and efiective during each stroke of movement of the cam for'expanding and collapsing said horn, and means for reciprocating,

said cam andmovingtheseam bumper in timed relation so that the seam bumper operates once during each expansion of the horn.

12. In a can body forming machine wherein is provided an expansiblebody forming, horn including a tubular supporting stud, a' body portion surrounding said stud, a side piece mounted for movement outwardly from and inwardly toward said body portion for alternately expand ing and collapsing said horn, said stud and said body portion having registering side apertures therein opening toward said side piece,.spring means constantly tending to move-the side piece toward the body portion, and thrust transmitting elements mounted in said apertures and engaging said side piecej horn expanding means including an actuator rod reciprocable'in said stud, and double acting cam elements carried by ment with the thrust transmitting elements for the rod and presented for. cooperative engagemoving the side piece outwardly and then re leasing it to permit the spring means to move inwardly during each stroke of reciprocation of said'rod.

.13. In a can body forming machinewherein is provided anexpansible body forming horn including a tubular supporting stud, a body portion surrounding said stud, a side piece mounted for movement outwardly from and inwardly toward said body portion for alternately expanding and collapsing said horn; said stud and said body portion having registering side apertures there: in opening toward said side piece, spring means constantly tending to move the side piece toward the body portion, thrust transmitting elements mounted in said apertures and projecting like distances inwardly intosaid rod recess and outthrust receiving screws projecting inwardly like distances from said side piece and engaging said elements; horn expanding means including an actuator. rod reciprocable in said studland having wardly toward the side piece, and adjustable I mitting elements and screws in moving the side a longitudinal recess therein, and a cam bar mounted in said rod recess and having double acting cam elements projecting like distances therefrom and engaging said thrust transmitting elements and cooperating with said thrust transpiece outwardly and then releasing it to permit the spring means to move it inwardly during each ly expanding and collapsing said horn, said stud and said body portion having registering side apertures therein opening toward said side piece, spring means constantly tending to move the side piece toward the body portion, thrust transmitting elements mounted in said apertures and projecting like distances inwardly into said rod recess and outwardly toward the side piece, and adjustable thrust receiving screws projecting inwardly like distances from said side piece and engaging said elements; horn expanding means including an actuator rod reciprocable in said stud and having a longitudinal recess therein, a cam bar mounted in said rod recess and having double acting cam elements projecting like distances therefrom and engaging said thrust transmitting elements and cooperating with said thrust transmitting elements and screws in moving the side piece outwardly and then releasing it to permit the springs to move it inwardly during each stroke of reciprocation of said rod, and means for imparting to the rod one compelte reciprocation for each two rotations of said shaft.

15. In a can body forming machine wherein is provided a power shaft rotated once during each can body forming cycle, abody forming,

horn including a tubular supporting stud, a body portion surrounding said stud, a side piece mounted for movement outwardly from and inwardly toward said body portion for alternately expanding and collapsing said horn, said stud and said body portion having registering side apertures therein opening toward said side piece, spring means constantly tending to move the side piece toward the body portion, thrust transmitting elements mounted in said apertures and projecting like distances inwardly into said rod recess and outwardly toward the side piece, and adjustable thrust receiving screws projecting inwardly like distances from said side piece and engaging said elements; horn expanding means including an actuator rod reciprocable in said stud and having a longitudinal recess therein, a cam bar mounted in said rod recess and having double acting cam elements projecting like distances therefrom and engaging said thrust transmitting elements and cooperating with saidthrust transmitting elements and screws in moving the side piece outwardly and then releasing it to permit it to move inwardly during each stroke of reciprocation of said rod, means for imparting to the rod one complete reciprocation for each two rotations of said shaft, said last named means including a one totwo ratio gearing connection and a crank and pitman, interposed between said gearing and said rod, and means for adjusting the relation of the pitman with the gearing and of the pitman with the rod.

16. In a can body forming machine wherein is provided an expansible and collapsible horn, and a reciprocable rod for controlling the expanding and collapsing of said horn; means for recip-.

rocating said rod comprising a rotary crank, a pitman for transmittingthe rotary motion of the crank in the form of reciprocatory motion to said rod and comprising a housing portion, a bar portion slidable in said housing portion, and latch means normally causing said bar and housing portions to move together and releasable upon imposition of an overload to allow the bar portion to slide back and forth ineffectually in the housing portion.

1'7. In a can body forming machine wherein is provided an expansible and collapsible horn,

and a reciprocable rod for controlling the exa pitman for transmitting the rotary motion of the crank in the form of reciprocatory motion to said rod and comprising a housing portion, a bar portion slidable in said housing portion, latch means normally causing said bar and housing portions to move together and releasable upon imposition of an overload to allow the bar portion to slide back and forth ineffectually'in the housing portion, yieldable means for holding the latch in its normal position, and adjustment means for adjusting the resistance to latch movement of said yieldable means.

18. In a can body forming machine wherein is provided an expansible and collapsible horn, and a reciprocable rod for controlling the expanding and collapsing of said horn; means for reciprocating said rod comprising a rotary crank, a pitman for transmitting the rotary motion of the crank in the form of reciprocatory motion to said rod and comprising a housing portion, a bar portion slidable in said housing portion, latch means normally causing said bar and housing portions to move together and releasable upon imposition the housing.

WIILIAM WEBER. 

